The Nazi groaned, then seemed to spin on the spot! He changed from being an energy being to being a thin pale man in his underpants as he collapsed unconscious on the floor of the forest! Gravity Girl breathed a sigh of relief and moved over to Allards side, shielding her face from the intense heat of the pooling gold over the Lava Lady. "What now? Finish her off or make a run for it? Those planes are still buzzing about!"

Lava Lady spat gold from her mouth and scraped it from her eyes. Though immune to heat this was like being painted or covered in film! She would suffocate unless she could clean the stuff off!

Of Goldbrick? He was a bubbling puddle on the forest floor. The worlds most expensive bubbling puddle mind....

"We need to get out of here," Anyman decided, quickly drawing his new "Anyman Was Here!" logo in the dirt near the Lava Lady in German. "These folks live or die as they will."

He leads her away from the remaining Nazis.

"Let's head for the woods. Get deeper inside them and used them to hide us as best as possible as we make for the coast.," he tells her. "I really want to make sure the folks back home know what's going on here. Otherwise, I would be all for heading deeper into Germany and taking it on ourselves. I have a feeling that they will eventually have someone who is tough enough to take the two of us down and I want High Command to know what's going on before that happens."

"Though how much of a chance we have of getting away is not good," he admits. "Somehow they are tracking us through our powers. This Putty thing inside me has gone deep to prevent them from sensing him but it still doesn't seem to help. It looks like we need speed and only speed to get away. Pity neither of us knows how to fly a plane. We will just have to keep stealing cars, trucks and motorcycles and hope for the best."

Anyman led the way through the forest. They heard the plane buzz over a number of times, but continued on through the darkening treeline.

Soon, the sound of the aeroplanes became distant, but Anyman never let up. Indeed, it seemed as if his companion were tireless!

=========

Anyman woke with Emma Steed still asleep and lying beside him...

The sun was coming up, he was dirty and getting hungry. The trees around were still and the sun poked its way through the upper branches as dawn broke. They'd gone miles before finally needing to rest, and found bushes to crawl under, hugging each other for warmth. Few words had passed between the pair - it was possible they were simply buying time, and that they would be in the clutches of the Nazis before long!

Suddenly Anyman heard barking and baying of hounds in the distance....

The chase was back on!

=========

"Do you think they are still following?" asked Steed...

She knelt to scoop another handful of water from the river they'd followed upstream when coming across it. Anyman had found the pace punishing, even though he was as fit as any athlete. Emma seemed as tireless as ever, and despite being shot and attacked, only her clothes seemed the worse for wear. Indeed, both now looked like tramps rather than British agents!

Anyman was absent with his reply, instead parting bushes to look up at a farmhouse on a hillside. A farmer was tending sheep, rounding them up to put them back into a field. The house looked warm, inviting and promised food, at least. A look back at the forest spread out across the valley, and Anyman knew the Nazis were still out there. Would he risk bringing the war to this farmer and his family, or move on? His stomach growled with reluctance at the latter thought.

=========

"Do we still have their trail? We are spread awfully thin..." said one of the Nazi Metahumans...

They'd had to divide and spread out, staying in groups of two or three. Their prey was wily and seemed capable of outpacing dogs, though much of that was down to the intelligence of the man they tracked. He had laid false trails with a dead rabbit, swam upstream at one point, and appeared to have double back at another, then moved to several places, presumably by climbing the trees, dropping to the floor to leave a spoor and climbing back up again. All had cost the Nazis time.

The older metahuman lowered his binoculars. "This man is cunning. The supreme enemy. He may not have power in abundance, but his intelligence and tactics are beyond reproach. However, even he cannot be tireless. We have found where he slept last night. We must be but an hour behind, despite the setbacks."

He looked at the Farmhouse high on the hillside. "Have Gunther deploy the dogs again. We will seek out our prey once more..."

OOC Farmhouse, or continue? Anyman is in the countryside. The Farmhouse might give him everything he needs, including transport. The problem is, the Nazis might know that too!

OOC I was thinking you guys had been through enough trials and tribulations getting out of Germany so you are but hours away from a port. First though, an extra trial/tribulation I think!

Emma trudged up the hill towards the farmhouse. She was tired, dirty, and hungry, but had enjoyed spending time with Allard. He was witty, charming and always there was the dry sense of humour with the glint in his eye that showed he'd been a ladies man before his accident, and had no intentions of stopping after, especially since he could resemble anyone he chose!

"Hello?" Steed offered as she knocked on the door and opened it slightly.

=========

Anyman watched Emma go into the Farmhouse as he made his way to the outbuildings...

Inspecting an old tractor he ruled that out - they'd be faster walking. There was a car in one of the fields but the tree growing through its floor suggested it'd seen better days. With a sigh he realised there'd not be much they could use for transport until he heard sounds from the stables. A quick look inside revealed half a dozen horses, a couple of cows, some pigs and hens. Fresh eggs were on the menu at any rate!

He walked from the Farmhouse and looked up, heart sinking. The telltale rush of air told him what he needed to know...

The Nazis had found them!

"You are a hard man to track down, Herr Anyman. Luckily we hef an army of Psychics who can pinpoint anyone we seek. They were attacked a short while ago and Ve hed some problems getting them back to work. A little persuasion got them back to work. Whomever was responsible for that setback shall be punished, but you vill not see ze day! Your last hours shall be spent begging for death whilst we torture you!"

=========

Emma took a loaf from a cupboard, cheese, ham, eggs and jam...

Milk, butter, roast chicken... She licked her lips at the thought of the feast! Grabbing what money she had left she tossed the bundle onto the table and realised she'd far overpaid, but grinned and wrote a note saying 'sorry!' anyway to go with the money.

Her smile faded as she looked out into the yard...

She saw the gaudily dressed Nazi yelling at Anyman, then heard barking coming from round the back of the Farmhouse. Dogs?

Stepping out the back, she gasped! Dogs...the size of bulls? These creatures snorted, bounding across the field towards her, all three of them massive, seemingly grown huge! When they barked, the noise was deafening! Behind the dogs, at the treeline, a Nazi in a white suit thrust his hand out at the dogs, seemingly in charge of their movements!

As the combatants closed the Nazi quipped. "You may wonder how we find it so easy to track you..."

He snarled "The voice inside of me tells me where you may be found, Prince!"

Anyman wasn't quite sure what the Nazi was talking about, but the man continued "Your power shines like a beacon in this land of insipid light and colour! You were never meant for this life! You were meant to lead!" The Nazi suddenly paused, a look of confusion on his face. "What?"

OOC first attack total 13, miss. Second 21, 25htc which reduces dividers of the Nazi. He can't make a combat response because he's too busy yapping!

The Nazi gaped as the stick swung for him, grinned when it missed and cried out as it whipped out again! With a cry he pulled back, clutching his face! A long red line had opened up down one side of his face. "NO!" he cried. "You will pay for that!"

He flew into the air (OOC 1 frame) levelled both hands and blasted a stream of glowing red energy at Anyman!OOC High power blast, takes an action. Total hit roll 28, just short of a critical! Damage 24htc 22htk. Anyman had recovered from his earlier wounds. Any response to the attack will take 2 frames. The Nazi is 10m up. He doesn't look pleased that you gave him a scar! He saves his last frame for a combat response if required.

'This foe is possessed by a shadow demon, one I am unfamiliar with. If they are choosing to inhabit your enemies metahuman forms you may be in trouble - they tend to enhance their operatives so that whilst they have a very much shorter lifespan, they are more powerful and therefore better able to use the power of a Shadow Demon symbiote! Reccomendation... run!' said the inner voice. Run? RUN???

Emma grabbed the candlestick and swung twice at the huge head that filled the doorframe...

OOC Ugh. Roll total 9 and 10. Both missed.

The dog shook its head... and immediately the building started to shake! Ancient stones fell away and a supporting wall fell inwards towards Emma! She cried out, snatching the all important parcel of food from a table that was demolished a heartbeat later... then she looked up - the roofbeams were about to fall on her!

OOC Emma can stay put, try to deflect the falling roof somehow or make a break for a window and get out in the open where these things can really get at her...

=========

"Our orders are to wait. Major Nazi insisted he have the honour of defeating the enemy and dragging his beaten form back to Berlin"

Said the officer looking with binoculars from a truck half a mile away. They'd driven as fast as they could but the arrogant metahuman had sped ahead, his incredible speed causing a sonic boom that deafened everyone on the truck for a time and swayed trees! The men didn't like him, but he was, for some reason, the most powerful of the recruits from the castle. He'd been away on patrol/exercises when Anyman had destroyed the place. Now he was eager to make a name for himself - succeeding where quite a few others had failed! The officer half hoped the Britisher would somehow defeat the man, to teach him a lesson!

"We wait here. Even if the major is having trouble..." he said, smiling to himself.

He flew into the air (OOC 1 frame) levelled both hands and blasted a stream of glowing red energy at Anyman!

OOC High power blast, takes an action. Total hit roll 28, just short of a critical! Damage 24htc 22htk. Anyman had recovered from his earlier wounds. Any response to the attack will take 2 frames. The Nazi is 10m up. He doesn't look pleased that you gave him a scar! He saves his last frame for a combat response if required.

'This foe is possessed by a shadow demon, one I am unfamiliar with. If they are choosing to inhabit your enemies metahuman forms you may be in trouble - they tend to enhance their operatives so that whilst they have a very much shorter lifespan, they are more powerful and therefore better able to use the power of a Shadow Demon symbiote! Reccomendation... run!' said the inner voice. Run? RUN???

Emma grabbed the candlestick and swung twice at the huge head that filled the doorframe...

OOC Ugh. Roll total 9 and 10. Both missed.

The dog shook its head... and immediately the building started to shake! Ancient stones fell away and a supporting wall fell inwards towards Emma! She cried out, snatching the all important parcel of food from a table that was demolished a heartbeat later... then she looked up - the roofbeams were about to fall on her!

OOC Emma can stay put, try to deflect the falling roof somehow or make a break for a window and get out in the open where these things can really get at her...

=========

"Damn him for getting air superiority," Anyman muttered looking up at his foe. His out of reach foe. Well, he could try throwing his quarterstaff but that would be a one time thing and then he would have to scramble to try to get it, assuming it didn't stick in Major Nazi there.

"Right! Strategic withdrawal it is," he said outloud to Putty. He then ran away. He ran for the barn. His idea was to get the Major back down within arms reach, which could be done inside a barn, assuming it wasn't burned down around his ears.

Gravity Girl, meanwhile, decided it was better to stay inside for a bit longer. So clutching the food parcel in one hand and holding the silver club in the other, she tried to dodge and use her powers to deflect at least part of the collapsing roof so it would provide her with some cover.

The Nazi prepared himself for an attack. Whatever the enemy was using, it appeared capable of slashing into his supposedly impervious skin! Major Nazi had been injected several times with the serums designed to enhance his body. The risks had been considerable! After the first if he'd not had an increased tolerance for pain he would have been killed outright! As it was, he'd suffered a heart attack after the third, and wasn't quite sure how he'd survived, only that his superiors had ordered him not to take any more. Major Nazi had laughed, torn the syringe from the scientists hand and broken the needle on his skin before squirting the serum into his mouth.

He'd come to changed more than any other. It had been a week, and they said he'd been in a coma. The scientists weren't sure as to why he still lived when others who'd been injected more than once had usually died or become disfigured! All he knew was that he felt power within, and desired to use it!

Anyman made for the comparative safety of a large barn and slammed a door shut behind him. It wouldn't hold his enemy long but he hoped it'd bring him within swinging distance!

==========Gravity Girl ducked back as the huge head, the size of an oven, snapped at her!

Slightly out of the reach of the fetid breath, she breathed a sigh of relief until the enlarged dog rammed the door frame once, twice, and lunged forwards by another couple of inches! Gravity Girl jammed a hand upwards, took her best guess, and waited. Another lunge! The huge jaws snapped shut an inch from her face, and pulled back. The next lunge would take her head in its jaws! She glanced up again, then hissed "Come on you vile beast! That the best you can do?"

It lunged... and Gravity Girl used her power on a roof beam! Suddenly, weighing many times its original weight, it dropped down... into the path of the oncoming head! With a sickening wet crunch there was a loud yelp and the head drew back, the face a ruin! Emma winced as she heard the other two rabid dogs turn on their wounded companion, and the sounds of ripping flesh filled the air!

Suddenly there was a huge crack!

=========

Anyman moved to a dusty window in the barn and wiped it with a sleeve...

In time to see the farmhouse completely collapse in on itself! "No! EMMA!" he called out.

He turned as the barn door crashed inwards, destroyed by immense strength and tumbling through the air in the form of wooden shards and splinters!

"ANYMAN!" bellowed Major Nazi. "Time... to die!" he hissed.

Major Nazi looked about. He narrowed his eyes. "I have superhuman senses! You cannot hide for long from me! I am the ultimate German symbol of superiority!"

'He prattles like an old man. There is no end to his incessant babble! Say the word and unleash the power, or he will bludgeon you senseless!' said the voice inside. 'Your woman is still alive, but will not live much longer unless you act! The time is now! CALL ON THE POWER!'

Anyman shivered. Part of him knew what might happen. Calling on the power within... he had visions of a huge explosions and death... shivering, he suddenly blinked...

Major Nazi stalked through the shadows looking for him... he was only metres away, but could he beat this man?

OOC You have surprise/initiative, but a random number of frames before .... Hmm. I'll shut up. Roll says 4 frames, then MN's 4. You are 1 frame movement away.

'He prattles like an old man. There is no end to his incessant babble! Say the word and unleash the power, or he will bludgeon you senseless!' said the voice inside. 'Your woman is still alive, but will not live much longer unless you act! The time is now! CALL ON THE POWER!'

Anyman shivered. Part of him knew what might happen. Calling on the power within... he had visions of a huge explosions and death... shivering, he suddenly blinked...

Major Nazi stalked through the shadows looking for him... he was only metres away, but could he beat this man?

OOC You have surprise/initiative, but a random number of frames before .... Hmm. I'll shut up. Roll says 4 frames, then MN's 4. You are 1 frame movement away..

"Oh Hell NO!," Putty snarled into Lance's head. "Ignore that voice. It wasn't me. The one time I did what it wanted, I killed everyone from miles around while trying to stop a menace. So don't ever listen to that voice!!"

"Wait a minute! There's two of you inside me," Lance complained. "Dammit! If you want to be supporting cast - fine! But if you try to upstage me, I'll tear you a new one! Now lets get Major Nasty there!"

With that bit of weird dialog, Anyman charges Major Nazi and swings away with the staff.

'Your mortal form... so... weak!' hissed the inner voice. 'Perhaps... perhaps there is yet a chance its limits can be pushed...'

OOC move 1 frame, attack three times. One hit, total of 21, two misses 24htc. The Nazi dodges with incredible speed and agility (and a good roll).

Anyman dived from cover and swung wildly. The nazi turned, ducking under a swing then stepping from the path of another. A thrust aimed at his gut looked to be bang on target, but with agility and speed almost the equal of Lionhearts, the Nazi stepped aside. "Is that it? I had heard you were a power! fearsome, resourceful, a danger to the third Reich like no other encountered thus far! And you come at me... with a stick?" he laughed.

He launched his own attack...

OOC two hits from three. Damage after dividers is 12htc and 10htc. That would add up to... 46htc, enough to KO our hero unless he wants to parry (best option in my opinion) or dodge. I'll leave that to you to decide, but the Nazi is faster, stronger, more agile, tougher and can fly. In other words, Anyman is a little out of his depth... in his current incarnation. The inner voices might have something to say about that though... Over to you.

Anyman threw up the unstrung bow but failed (OOC roll 1...) to block a punch that took him on the chin. Undaunted, he brought it round and saw another punch heading straight between his eyes! This was it! He pulled up the staff and mercifully managed to bat the arm away, though he was reeling still. (OOC Roll 15, parried, all damage reduced to nothing on second hit).

Anyman was teetering on the edge of oblivion. He knew his opponent was more powerful, and yet his indomitable spirit kept him on his feet!

The question was though... would his chin stand another bone jarring impact?OOC Initiative 7 Bad Guy, 6 Anyman. Bad guy used a frame to dodge, Anyman used 2 to parry, so he has two to act and the Nazi three.

"Surrender, Englishman. Surrender and your companion will be spared! Fight on.. and she will die!" hissed the Nazi, waving a clenched fist at Anyman...

OOC Initiative 7 Bad Guy, 6 Anyman. Bad guy used a frame to dodge, Anyman used 2 to parry, so he has two to act and the Nazi three.

"Surrender, Englishman. Surrender and your companion will be spared! Fight on.. and she will die!" hissed the Nazi, waving a clenched fist at Anyman...

Anyman had learned to never trust the word of a Nazi. But this was Emma's life they were talking about ... But, if they surrendered, they would probably undergo all sorts of painful medical experiments until their usefulness was ended then hung by piano wire from a meathook, with movies taken of the deed [an actual way of death some of the Nazi bigwigs like Himmler and Hitler actually had done and did have motion pictures of the deaths taken so they could watch them over and over again.]

"Some American rascal once said," Anyman quipped, "I've not yet begun to fight! So blow it out your arse, Nazi stooge! Gravity Girl will get away on her own!"

actions: Dice might just roll his way and he may actually win. If not, he is going down fighting and hoping to be taken alive so he can escape later.

Anyman said his piece and charged at the Nazi, swinging! The enraged German tried his best to dodge one blow, then decided to ignore the second and deliver punishment to his hated English foe!

OOC Both solid hits. 21 and 23 total to hit. Total damage 45, dividers ignored thanks to the magical nature of the weapon. First hit, MN tries to dodge... Glancing blow, use another frame to dodge, which he does. He now has 1 frame remaining this round. He takes 22htc from the second swipe and cries out as it leaves another red scar down his face and chest!

"What IS that?" he screamed. "I shall take that stick and wrap it around your neck!"

"Your orders were to take the Englishman alive!" said a voice from the door. A Nazi stormtrooper in full armour and jetpack stood there with half a dozen of his men. "He will live... if he is strong." snarled Major Nazi. Suddenly he groaned. "What...?"

Anyman saw the floorboards creak underneath Nazis feet, then staggered back a step... as the floor caved in!

A glance around revealed a small side door to the barn slightly ajar! The lovely, though bloodied and bruised face of Emma Steed appeared. She looked a mess, but at least she was still alive! "Those dogs have nearly finished tearing each other up!"

"ARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!" screamed a frustrated Major Nazi! With all of his herculean strength he leapt upwards, an explosion of wood shards spinning out in every direction as those in the barn shielded their face!

Suddenly there was an ominous cracking sound.. the barn was about to give way!OOC Major Nazi has his frames halved courtesy of Gravity Girl who's looking very second hand. The Nazi has taken a beating but is the most powerful opponent you have faced thus far in this timeline. I'm sure you guess in a straight up fight he'd batter just about anyone, but Anyman isn't anyone - he fights smart that said, the smart thing to do now? Well, I'll leave that to you Initiative 5 GG, 1 BG. 2 frames to y'all... Major Nazi has flown up and out of the building roof, around 15m up.. and the barn is about to collapse in on itself!

OOC Major Nazi has his frames halved courtesy of Gravity Girl who's looking very second hand. The Nazi has taken a beating but is the most powerful opponent you have faced thus far in this timeline. I'm sure you guess in a straight up fight he'd batter just about anyone, but Anyman isn't anyone - he fights smart that said, the smart thing to do now? Well, I'll leave that to you Initiative 5 GG, 1 BG. 2 frames to y'all... Major Nazi has flown up and out of the building roof, around 15m up.. and the barn is about to collapse in on itself!

Anyman gets a gleam in his eyes.

"Gravity Girl! Help me take down the guy in the Buck Rogers rocketpack," he yells as he leaps to attack the Rocket Storm Trooper. "I can negate one of Major Nazi's biggest advantage by using his rocketpack to go after that Goose Stepping Goon!"

"There are loads of them though!" she cried, making her way over to Anyman and concentrating her power on the nazi above. "I need to keep my... lock on him! Otherwise he will move out of range!"

OOC We'll say that once the gravity effect is in place and within 6m (range of the power) it's maintained as a free. From 7m to 20m away it will cost GG two frames to maintain the power. Beyond 20m it is cancelled out...

Anyman moves to the door of the barn, swings with the staff (OOC solid hit, ignores body armour and KOs the rocket goon. He's a normal soldier so one hit from a strength imbued character will KO him...) The rocket trooper is dropped...

Major Nazi levels his arms, grunting with the effort. Cursing that his energy levels were depleted he flies down to Anyman (OOC 1 frame) and delivers a jarring punch! (OOC Roll total of 9, miss)

The Nazi turned to Emma. "You! Woman, i will snap your neck for this!"

The soldiers outside gathered themselves, readying weapons and preparing to charge into the barn! They had orders to take Anyman alive though, and so reluctantly flicked a switch on their unusual weapons!OOC you have 2 frames. Steed wants to go, but she won't leave Anyman and will fight to the last at his side despite being on her last legs. The Nazis frames are halved and he has none remaining for this round. It will take a frame to remove the pack from the trooper and a frame to put it on. The Nazi is, however, in swinging range...

The soldiers outside gathered themselves, readying weapons and preparing to charge into the barn! They had orders to take Anyman alive though, and so reluctantly flicked a switch on their unusual weapons!

OOC you have 2 frames. Steed wants to go, but she won't leave Anyman and will fight to the last at his side despite being on her last legs. The Nazis frames are halved and he has none remaining for this round. It will take a frame to remove the pack from the trooper and a frame to put it on. The Nazi is, however, in swinging range....

Since he is on the ground, use my frames to attack him with staff while Gravity Girl keeps him down. And if somehow we knock him out before the others rush in, gonna try to get the rocketpack on at that point and try to fly away with Gravity Girl in my arms. Or get her her own rocketpack.

Anyman lashed out with the strange staff/bow, using it as a club. Surprisingly the thing was devastatingly effective, and the Nazi covered himself as best he could with his arms and hands.

OOC both solid hits. Damage 25 and 24htc. Am ruling that since he's on the floor with frames halved he's basically very vulnerable. Even if he parries with his arms he will take the damage to his arms instead of his torso and head.. So...

Anyman ground his teeth, thrashing the enemy again, and again, and again... He wrestled off a pair of hands that tried to restrain him, then paused as he heard Emmas voice. "Lance? LANCE! He's down! Look!" The Nazi was indeed down and out, curled up into a ball and having bloody red welts all over his skin. He had taken a thrashing he would never forget!

Steed had used the time to jam the door as best she could then grab the jetpack. They were running out of time though...

=========

"Ready! Fire!" called the German officer outside of the barn...

The assembled troops opened fire, slicing the wood into shards with every shot, literally mincing the walls and door of the barn with machine gun fire...

All eyes looked up a heartbeat later as an explosion of wood from the barn roof revealed their prey had escaped, trailing a stream of smoke behind them! As the British agents rocketed into the air and away, the Nazis turned their guns on them and fired till they were empty!

=========Emma clung to Allards chest with the mans arms wrapped around her...

Whilst bullets zipped all about them! She heard a couple of pings and looked over Anymans shoulder, cursing... flames were licking up the back of the punctured rocketpack, and she saw rising dots in the distance as the Nazis gave chase!

Allard wrestled with the controls of the jetpack. Superhuman strength helped, but he was aware of leaking fuel and knew he was but seconds away from the pair of them being engulfed in flames! As Emmas eyes widened, he reached a hand towards the clasp on the Rocketpack harness... She kissed him... then the pair fell free of the jetpack, hand in hand to fall through the air... whilst the jetpack exploded!

=========

Nightfall.. so it must have been hours...?

Anyman woke with a groan. He was half submerged in water and mud and covered in muck. With a grunt he rose to his feet and staggered about. Where was...?

He turned. He was on the bank of a wide river that had recently burst its banks. Snow was falling all about, the kind that settled in large soft flakes. Splashing alerted him, and he saw a rowing boat heading towards him...

Covered in mud, Emma Steed turned to Anyman and called out "About time you got up! I checked you were alive but couldn't wake you. Managed to drag you free of the water then got our ride home sorted..."

Anyman grinned. A rowing boat? With a shrug he waded out into the water and swam steadily towards the boat...OOC Unless you want to add something, I intend to wrap this issue up in the next issue to start you on another... Apologies for the delay. Even as I type I've caught a finger and cut it (see posting rate to see why I've been struggling). New issue tomorrow ...

Covered in mud, Emma Steed turned to Anyman and called out "About time you got up! I checked you were alive but couldn't wake you. Managed to drag you free of the water then got our ride home sorted..."

Anyman grinned. A rowing boat? With a shrug he waded out into the water and swam steadily towards the boat...

OOC Unless you want to add something, I intend to wrap this issue up in the next issue to start you on another... Apologies for the delay. Even as I type I've caught a finger and cut it (see posting rate to see why I've been struggling). New issue tomorrow ....

"Strange," he said as they rowed for England. "Here I am an actor. I wanted to always be on the stage. To be noticed. Now, the Nazis notice me but folks back home have no idea who or what I am. Wish it was the other way around but what can you do ....?"

He grins.

"There goes my whole plan of working my way to Berlin and getting next to the Nazi bigwigs and killing them. With those psychics they have, they always know roughly where I am. Let's just hope we can row fast enough to get to safely before the next batch of super-Nazis come after us."

"Too bad a lot of the documents I stole were destroyed in most of the fighting but hopefully the film from the minature camera is still good. That and what we learned ought to make High Command sit up and listen to us."

"That's true, Lance," Emma replied, looking out over the water and the sky for anything that might come after them. "However, if it wasn't for our powers, we wouldn't have survived our very first encounter with those beasts. Wonder if we can come up with our own psychics and have them block theirs so we can get closer?"

The two of them continued having a very romantic rowing session across the seas, discussing what they had learned and hoped to do in the future.

ooc: Hopefully what we learned will be of use. With the enemy always being able to find us, Anyman doing sneaky solo stuff is pretty much out the window. Time for another team-up with another PC?

OOC Time indeed to team up with more PCs but more along the lines of bringing as many of you together as possible for the Dunkirk evacuation. Whilst you guys have been globe trotting the British Expeditionary Force has been gathering along the French/Belgian border. At the moment it's up to around 150,000 men, short of its eventual (historic) 315,000+ size in March 1940. Of course, that's what happened historically... throw in the ingredients of superhuman operatives, jetpacks, advanced weapons and armour, spacecraft, alien allies and mystical forces and history is referred to, considered then chucked out the window... In all these game threads we are essentially running a 'what if...?' scenario so I'm open to suggestions about what might have happened if one side had done one thing rather than the other. What if... The Nazis successfully destroyed or captured the entire British Expeditionary Force? We'll ask that question soon...

Emma laughed at Allards observations, and kept a lookout as the superhuman powered the small boat through the river as the snow came down. Though it was bitterly cold the inclement weather served to cover the pairs tracks and the Nazi Rocket Troopers lost track of them as the wind picked up, obscuring their vision and sending the temperature plummeting, especially at speed with wind chill.

========="Thankyou." said Anyman, tipping his borrowed hat to the fisherman who'd taken them as far as rowing distance to Englands southern coast...

Of course, 'rowing distance' was 30 miles - madness according to the French Fisherman and especially given the white capped waves. he hadn't known about the superhuman agents ability to propel the boat through the water so powerfully that the oars strained and the boat positively skipped across the waves.

Even so, it took an epic journey down the french coast, stopping occasionally to purchase what supplies they could, sleeping rough and sometimes tied up in river mouths, under trees and deserted outbuildings.

In that time Steed and Allard depended on each other completely, and formed a formidable, resourceful team. Wounds healed, and there was occasional time for laughter, but the bitter winter that blew across Europe soon wiped smiles from faces.

=========

The super agent staggered to shore, having finally made the push to make land....

Food and water had run out days ago, and the British agents had been pushed beyond mere human limits. Steed, though looking rather like she'd been dragged through a hedge backwards, repeatedly, bore up even better than Allard thanks to superhuman endurance. Even so, it was Allard, who'd done the majority of the rowing, that dragged her unconscious form onto the shores of Dover.

With a gasp Allard sagged onto the sand, even as soldiers came running down onto the beach to challenge them! "Who goes there?" they yelled, rifles ready. With a grin Allard smiled "I do. Get the bloody kettle on chaps!" he said, sitting up and raising his hands, fight gone out of him but replaced with a flood of relief.

They'd failed in their mission, but accomplished a far more important task. More than that. He stroked a hair from Steeds face, and looked at her dirtied, exhausted face, still beautiful.

They were home.

Even as he acknowledged that he knew it would not be long before he crossed the channel again. The war may have been a non event thus far, in terms of battles, but it would soon come to these shores...

With a shiver Allard gently woke Steed as a blanket was wrapped around them and they were led away, to eventually get back at DICE HQ long hours later...